About the session
Extreme tribological challenges include many situations where conventional liquid lubricants are inappropriate (e.g. vacuum, ultra-clean and high temperature environments) or where safe performance must be guaranteed, even in the event of external lubricant starvation. Correctly engineered dry-film or “self-lubricating” coatings, in combination with appropriate hard and wear resistant layers, can offer such protection. Excellent coating adhesion, and the freedom from macro-defects which can initiate local coating loss, rapidly leading to wider degradation and ultimately catastrophic failure, are also critical to the successful exploitation of such vacuum-based surface engineering. The state of the art in magnetron sputtering physical vapour deposition (MS-PVD) and plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) is described, with relevant examples of hard, wear resistant coatings (including monolithic, compositionally graded and nano-laminate structures), together with low-friction, self-lubricating films (based on molybdenum disulphide and carbon). Tribological characterisation in laboratory tests (with up to 3 GPa normal loading) is described, together with relevant real-world application examples. Recent developments to extend the operating temperatures of such coatings are reviewed and a future perspective is provided, for example in the potential benefits of modelling and the opportunity to create “designer” nano-composites through the combination of PVD and gas phase nano-cluster technology.
Tribology enables the control and optimisation of wear and friction in engineered products and systems. Tribology underpins industry, so it has great economic and social significance. It also contributes to meeting the growing demands for environmentally-sustainable technologies.
The competitiveness of UK industry depends on keeping ahead of new developments in Tribology. Future success depends on updating the knowledge and understanding of the workforce, so that these developments can be incorporated into future products and systems.
This inaugural event will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Jost Report, which coined the term “tribology” and focused strategic investment into this fascinating and challenging field.
It will provide a forum between industry and academia where new developments and the latest ideas in Tribology can be highlighted and where new and evolving challenges can be identified.
